Skip to content

Convert Any File

Convert images, documents, video and audio in your browser. Your files stay on your device.

Convert GIF to ICO

Need the image as ICO because a website, an app or a printer won’t take GIF? Drop the files here: the conversion runs on your own device, even for dozens of images at once.

Drop your files hereor (GIF and over 40 other formats). You can also paste an image.No upload: everything happens on your device

How to convert GIF to ICO

  1. Add your GIF files

    Drag one or more GIF files onto the dashed area, or tap it to pick them from your device.

  2. Choose ICO and the options

    ICO is already selected; the options hold the settings that matter for this conversion.

  3. Convert and download

    Press “Convert to ICO”. When it’s done, download the files one by one or all together in a ZIP archive.

Good to know. An ICO file holds the same icon in several sizes (16 to 256 pixels): Windows and browsers pick the right one.

GIF and ICO compared

Source format

GIF

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)

The format of short animations and memes. It uses a palette of at most 256 colours, so it’s fine for simple graphics but degrades photos. Transparency is all-or-nothing: a pixel is either solid or invisible.

Best for
Short animations, icons and graphics with few colours.
Limits
Only 256 colours and no partial transparency; long animations get very heavy.
Compression
lossless, max 256 colours
Transparency
Yes
Animation
Yes
Extensions
.gif
Since
1987
All about the GIF format

Target format

ICO

ICO (Windows icon)

A container that holds the same icon in several sizes, from 16 to 256 pixels: Windows and browsers pick the one that best fits the available space. It’s still the most compatible format for a website’s favicon.

Best for
Website favicons, icons for programs and shortcuts on Windows.
Limits
It can’t go beyond 256 × 256 pixels and is only useful for icons.
Compression
embedded PNG or bitmaps
Transparency
Yes
Animation
No
Extensions
.ico
All about the ICO format

Questions about GIF and ICO

Are my GIF files uploaded to a server?

No. The conversion from GIF to ICO happens entirely in your browser, using your device’s computing power. Files aren’t sent or stored anywhere: when you close the page they’re gone from memory too.

How many files can I convert at once?

Up to 100 files at a time. There’s no fixed size limit: it depends on your device’s memory. On smartphones it’s best to work in smaller batches with heavy files such as videos.

Does it work on iPhone and Android?

Yes, with up-to-date Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Samsung Internet. On phones, converted files end up in the Downloads folder or the Files app.

Do I need an internet connection?

Only to open the page (and, the first time, to download the components needed for that type of file). After that the conversion keeps working even if the connection drops.

Other conversions

Useful tools